Scotland Has Already Achieved Its 2020 Low Carbon Emission Goal

Seeking Sustainable Growth Through Low Carbon Emissions

Scotland set out to fight climate change with its Low Carbon Economy Strategy (LCES) and Energy Efficiency Action Plan (EEAP) which included decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by 42% by 2020. Much to everyone’s surprise, Scotland achieved its goal six years early, in 2014, with 45.8% lower carbon emissions. These results catapulted Scotland into a leadership position ahead of most of its European neighbors. Scotland’s success came only second to Sweden in terms of total greenhouse gas emission cuts; Sweden cut its emissions by 54.5% between 1990 and 2014.

Tying Prosperity to Sustainability

As the Scotland plan shows (see below) creating a prosperous Scotland was thought to be dependent on creating a sustainable future for the country.